Histochemical observation of the cell membrane complex of hair.

The study aimed to clarify the fine structure of hair fiber components, focusing on the Cell Membrane Complex (CMC) of the cuticle. Hair fibers were treated with different agents to reduce disulfide bonds, and the resulting sulfhydryl residues were observed. The fibers were then grafted with methyl methacrylate, and the location of the grafted polymer was determined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The polymer was mainly found in the CMC and endocuticle of fibers reduced with thioglycolic acid (TGA), but not in those reduced with tri-n-butyl-phosphine (TBP). Structural changes in the CMC were observed when hairs were prefixed with ruthenium tetroxide. The results suggested that the CMC consists of both hydrophilic regions with disulfide linkages and hydrophobic lamella-like lipid layers.